Houston Dynamo extend head coach Ben Olsen’s contract through the 2027-28 MLS season

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

Houston Dynamo FC has signed head coach Ben Olsen to a contract extension through the 2027-28 MLS season, the club announced Wednesday. The move keeps Olsen at the helm as the Dynamo pursue long-term stability and competitive consistency in Major League Soccer.

Olsen was hired ahead of the 2023 MLS campaign and has guided Houston to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs in three of four seasons, including a playoff berth in 2026. Houston’s current position entering the season’s closing stretch was described as fifth in the Western Conference with 47 points and a record of 13 wins, 9 losses and 8 draws, with one point separating the Dynamo from fourth-place San Jose.

In addition to his Houston tenure, the club noted that Olsen previously coached D.C. United. His career in MLS has also earned him recognition among active coaches; the announcement stated that Olsen joins Bruce Arena of the San Jose Earthquakes and Brian Schmetzer of Seattle Sounders FC as the only three active head coaches to lead a team to the playoffs at least eight times.

Houston’s announcement also pointed to Olsen’s standing in league coaching wins. It stated he is seventh all-time among MLS head coaches with 164 regular-season wins, and it linked his experience to key achievements with the Dynamo, including a US Open Cup title in 2023.

Dynamo president of soccer Pat Onstad framed the extension as part of a longer-term organizational plan. Onstad said the club’s vision has been to build a sustainable winner that makes the city of Houston proud, and he described Olsen as central to realizing that vision, citing Houston’s playoff consistency and US Open Cup success.

Onstad’s remarks also tied the extension to results and culture-building. In the club’s statement, he said that under Olsen’s leadership Houston reestablished itself as a contender, lifted the US Open Cup, qualified for international competition and secured its third MLS Cup Playoffs berth in four seasons, while also working to restore the club’s identity by maintaining a competitive team and developing young talent.

Onstad said the Dynamo have built a strong foundation with Olsen and expressed the club’s intent to continue that work as Houston pursues sustained success and competes for more trophies for both the club and the city of Houston.

Olsen responded to the extension by referencing the appeal of the club’s and city’s potential and highlighting the standards the Dynamo have established since his arrival. In the club’s statement, Olsen said he was drawn to the opportunity with the Dynamo because of that potential and that he was proud of the progress made together and the standards set.

Olsen also credited the broader group responsible for the team’s recent momentum. The announcement quotes him saying the progress reflects the commitment of players, coaches and staff, along with support from fans, and he thanked Dynamo leadership, including Ted and Pat, for their continued trust and belief in the work underway. He also said he was energized by the opportunity to build on the club’s success and make Houston proud.

As the extension becomes official, the announcement places Olsen’s next coaching contract firmly into the 2027-28 MLS season timeframe, extending the partnership beyond the current cycle of playoff contention described in the club’s statement. The decision keeps Houston’s coaching continuity intact as it works through the final stage of the regular season described at the time of the announcement.